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0 Introduction
A Local Area Network (LAN) was originally defined as a network of computers located within the same area. Today, Local Area Networks are defined as a single broadcast domain. This means that if a user broadcasts information on his/her LAN, the broadcast will be received by every other user on the LAN. Broadcasts are prevented from leaving a LAN by using a router. The disadvantage of this method is routers usually take more time to process incoming data compared to a bridge or a switch. More importantly, the formation of broadcast domains depends on the physical connection of the devices in the network. Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN's) were developed as an alternative solution to using routers to contain broadcast traffic. In Section 2, we define VLAN's and examine the difference between a LAN and a VLAN. This is followed by a discussion on the advantages VLAN's introduce to a network in Section 3. Finally, we explain how VLAN's work based on the current draft standards in Section 4.
Physical View
Logical View Figure 2: Physical and logical view of a VLAN. VLAN's also allow broadcast domains to be defined without using routers. Bridging software is used instead to define which workstations are to be included in the broadcast domain. Routers would only have to be used to communicate between two VLAN's [ Hein et al].
1) Performance
In networks where traffic consists of a high percentage of broadcasts and multicasts, VLAN's can reduce the need to send such traffic to unnecessary destinations. For example, in a broadcast domain consisting of 10 users, if the broadcast traffic is intended only for 5 of the users, then placing those 5 users on a separate VLAN can reduce traffic [ Passmore et al (3Com report)]. Compared to switches, routers require more processing of incoming traffic. As the volume of traffic passing through the routers increases, so does the latency in the routers, which results in reduced performance. The use of VLAN's reduces the number of routers needed, since VLAN's create broadcast domains using switches instead of routers.
Nowadays, it is common to find cross-functional product development teams with members from different departments such as marketing, sales, accounting, and research. These workgroups are usually formed for a short period of time. During this period, communication between members of the workgroup will be high. To contain broadcasts and multicasts within the workgroup, a VLAN can be set up for them. With VLAN's it is easier to place members of a workgroup together. Without VLAN's, the only way this would be possible is to physically move all the members of the workgroup closer together. However, virtual workgroups do not come without problems. Consider the situation where one user of the workgroup is on the fourth floor of a building, and the other workgroup members are on the second floor. Resources such as a printer would be located on the second floor, which would be inconvenient for the lone fourth floor user. Another problem with setting up virtual workgroups is the implementation of centralized server farms, which are essentially collections of servers and major resources for operating a network at a central location. The advantages here are numerous, since it is more efficient and cost-effective to provide better security, uninterrupted power supply, consolidated backup, and a proper operating environment in a single area than if the major resources were scattered in a building. Centralized server farms can cause problems when setting up virtual workgroups if servers cannot be placed on more than one VLAN. In such a case, the server would be placed on a single VLAN and all other VLAN's trying to access the server would have to go through a router; this can reduce performance [Netreference Inc. article].
3) Simplified Administration
Seventy percent of network costs are a result of adds, moves, and changes of users in the network [ Buerger]. Every time a user is moved in a LAN, recabling, new station addressing, and reconfiguration of hubs and routers becomes necessary. Some of these tasks can be simplified with the use of VLAN's. If a user is moved within a VLAN, reconfiguration of routers is unnecessary. In addition, depending on the type of VLAN, other administrative work can be reduced or eliminated [ Cisco white paper]. However the full power of VLAN's will only really be felt when good management tools are created which can allow network managers to drag and drop users into different VLAN's or to set up aliases. Despite this saving, VLAN's add a layer of administrative complexity, since it now becomes necessary to manage virtual workgroups [ Passmore et al (3Com report)].
4) Reduced Cost
VLAN's can be used to create broadcast domains which eliminate the need for expensive routers.
5) Security
Periodically, sensitive data may be broadcast on a network. In such cases, placing only those users who can have access to that data on a VLAN can reduce the chances of an outsider gaining access to the data. VLAN's can also be used to control broadcast domains, set up firewalls, restrict access, and inform the
identifier is added to the data. If it is to go to a device that has no knowledge of VLAN implementation (VLANunaware), the bridge sends the data without the VLAN identifier. In order to understand how VLAN's work, we need to look at the types of VLAN's, the types of connections between devices on VLAN's, the filtering database which is used to send traffic to the correct VLAN, and tagging, a process used to identify the VLAN originating the data.
Port 1 2 3 4
VLAN 1 1 2 1
VLAN 1
2 2 1
Protocol IP IPX
VLAN 1 2
Figure5: Assignment of protocols to different VLAN's. 4) Layer 3 VLAN: Membership by IP Subnet Address
Membership is based on the Layer 3 header. The network IP subnet address can be used to classify VLAN membership (see Figure 6).
VLAN 1 2
1) Trunk Link
All the devices connected to a trunk link, including workstations, must be VLAN-aware. All frames on a trunk link must have a special header attached. These special frames are called tagged frames (see Figure7).
Figure 8: Access link between a VLAN-aware bridge and a VLAN-unaware device. 3) Hybrid Link
This is a combination of the previous two links. This is a link where both VLAN-aware and VLAN-unaware devices are attached (see Figure9). A hybrid link can have both tagged and untagged frames, but allthe frames for a specific VLAN must be either tagged or untagged.
Figure9: Hybrid link containing both VLAN-aware and VLAN-unaware devices. It must also be noted that the network can have a combination of all three types of links.
1) Filtering Database
Membership information for a VLAN is stored in a filtering database. The filtering database consists of the following types of entries:
i) Static Entries
Static information is added, modified, and deleted by management only. Entries are not automatically removed after some time (ageing), but must be explicitly removed by management. There are two types of static entries: a) Static Filtering Entries: which specify for every port whether frames to be sent to a specific MAC address or group address and on a specific VLAN should be forwarded or discarded, or should follow the dynamic entry, and b) Static Registration Entries: which specify whether frames to be sent to a specific VLAN are to be tagged or untagged and which ports are registered for that VLAN.
c) Dynamic Registration Entries: which specify which ports are registered for a specific VLAN. Entries are added and deleted using GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP), where GARP is the Generic Attribute Registration Protocol. GVRP is used not only to update dynamic registration entries, but also to communicate the information to other VLAN-aware bridges. In order for VLAN's to forward information to the correct destination, all the bridges in the VLAN should contain the same information in their respective filtering databases. GVRP allows both VLAN-aware workstations and bridges to issue and revoke VLAN memberships. VLAN-aware bridges register and propagate VLAN membership to all ports that are a part of the active topology of the VLAN. The active topology of a network is determined when the bridges are turned on or when a change in the state of the current topology is perceived. The active topology is determined using a spanning tree algorithm which prevents the formation of loops in the network by disabling ports. Once an active topology for the network (which may contain several VLAN's) is obtained, the bridges determine an active topology for each VLAN. This may result in a different topology for each VLAN or a common one for several VLAN's. In either case, the VLAN topology will be a subset of the active topology of the network (see Figure 10).
Figure10: Active topology of network and VLAN A using spanning tree algorithm. 2) Tagging
When frames are sent across the network, there needs to be a way of indicating to which VLAN the frame belongs, so that the bridge will forward the frames only to those ports that belong to that VLAN, instead of to all output ports as would normally have been done. This information is added to the frame in the form of a tag header. In addition, the tag header: i) allows user priority information to be specified, ii) allows source routing control information to be specified, and iii) indicates the format of MAC addresses. Frames in which a tag header has been added are called tagged frames. Tagged frames convey the VLAN information across the network. The tagged frames that are sent across hybrid and trunk links contain a tag header. There are two formats of the tag header:
i) Ethernet Frame Tag Header: The ethernet frame tag header (see Figure11) consists of a tag protocol identifier (TPID) and tag control information (TCI).
5.0 Summary
As we have seen there are significant advances in the field of networks in the form of VLAN's which allow the formation of virtual workgroups, better security, improved performance, simplified administration, and reduced costs. VLAN's are formed by the logical segmentation of a network and can be classified into Layer1, 2, 3 and higher layers. Only Layer 1 and 2 are specified in the draft standard 802.1Q. Tagging and the filtering database allow a bridge to determine the source and destination VLAN for received data. VLAN's if implemented effectively, show considerable promise in future networking solutions.
6.0 Abbreviations
CFI - Canonical Format Indicator FDDI - Fiber Distributed Data Interface FTP - File Transfer Protocol GARP - Generic Attribute Registration Protocol
GMRP - Group Multicast Registration Protocol GVRP - GARP VLAN Registration Protocol IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers LAN - Local Area Network MAC - Media Access Control RIF - Source-Routing Information TCI - Tag Control Information TPID - Tag Protocol Identifier VID - VLAN ID VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network